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Businesses new and old are always looking for ways to improve.

These improvements commonly appear in the form of changes to business processes, diversification of products or services or even new approaches to marketing. But a key factor in a business’ performance is its workforce – and their health can have a surprisingly large effect on output. Could encouraging employees to exercise help your brand? And if so, how exactly?

The Benefits of Exercise to the Workplace

Workplace exercise programs and encouragement confer numerous benefits of different kinds, to employees and employers alike in a given business. The benefits of exercise to physical health are self-evident and well-documented; exercise programs that improve the physical health of a workforce reduce the likelihood of any given staff member taking time off ill, due to boosting of immune system defences. Keeping limber can also reduce work-related injuries such as repetitive strain injury, and can increase stamina in operational staff more given to working on their feet. These effects go a long way to maintaining a functional workplace, and in some cases can increase productivity as well.

Of course, health improvements do not stop with the purely physical; exercise is also proven to improve mental health in those who do so regularly. Exercise releases endorphins, the “happiness” hormone in the brain, hence improving mood. Regular exercise also acts as a form of mindfulness meditation, as the brain is focused on the task at hand. These combine to clear the mind, and make for a happier, calmer person – which has a positive knock-on effect on their workplace impact and output. Happier employees are more productive, more efficient and less likely to hunt for employment elsewhere – making for less headaches on the executive side of things.

Ways to Encourage Exercise

Companies can encourage their workforce to exercise through various pathways. A common and popular way to do so is through a sponsored cycle-to-work scheme, which encourages employees to ditch the car, and instead use bicycles for their daily commute. Workplaces can also install gym equipment on the premises, giving employees free access as an employment perk. The provision of regular break-times for getting away from the desk and stretching out will also encourage adoption of healthy physical practice amongst the staff cohort.

Contingencies and Support

Of course, not all of your staff might be healthy or well enough to participate in programs and schemes such as this. Whether they’ve suffered an accident requiring a personal injury claim, or declared a chronic condition to HR, their needs must also be met without stratifying employees according to ability. Here, employee health can be prioritised in other ways, such as providing private occupational therapy to assist in a condition or speed up recovery.

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